This marks the 27th year that U.S. News has published college rankings. Though the top-ranked schools garner much acclaim, the rankings aren’t produced simply to benefit students who are considering attending institutions like Harvard and Williams. U.S. News uses its array of college data to provide insight to students of various academic and socioeconomic backgrounds. There is a list of the best schools for B students, rankings of historically black colleges and universities, as well as rankings of the most diverse national universities. And though the worst of the financial crisis seems to have passed, finding value in the increasingly expensive world of higher education is still one of the most important — if not the most important — factors in choosing a school. To meet that need, U.S. News has compiled best value lists for national universities and national liberal arts colleges, which rank schools based on the average cost of attending — after need-based grants are taken into account — relative to their academic ranking.

The National Universities and National Liberal Arts Colleges lists are just two of several sets of rankings that are a part of U.S. News’s evaluation of Best Colleges. Regional colleges and universities, which tend to draw heavily from their local area, and tend to have sparse doctoral program offerings, are ranked separately. Villanova University, Rollins College, Creighton University, and Trinity University are the top-ranked Regional Universities — schools that offer degrees up to the master’s level and were ranked as “Master’s Universities” in the past — in the North, South, Midwest and West, respectively. The top-ranked Regional Colleges — schools that offer bachelor’s degrees and were classified as “Baccalaureate Colleges” in previous rankings — are the United States Coast Guard Academy in the North, Ouachita Baptist University in the South, Taylor University in the Midwest, and the United States Air Force Academy in the West.

Though California’s public educational system is plagued by financial unrest and budget cutbacks, two of the state’s schools are ranked as the top public national universities. The University of California — Berkeley, which is the 22nd ranked national university, is the top-ranked public school, followed by the University of California — Los Angeles. Rounding out the top five publics: University of Virginia, University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, and the University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill.

Though schools at the top of the rankings deserve praise for their sterling academic standards, they shouldn’t receive all of the credit. U.S. News asked college administrators to name schools they believe to have made sharp improvements to their academics and campus facilities. Based on the results, U.S. News ranked the top “Up and Comers” across several categories. The University of Maryland — Baltimore County was determined to be the fastest-improving national university and Hendrix College earned top billing for National Liberal Arts Colleges. The best up-and-coming Regional Universities are Wagner College in the North, Elon University in the South, Butler University in the Midwest and Abilene Christian University in the West.

Over two years in the making, Matrix Version 6 represents Gemvision’s most extensive upgrade yet. Utilizing years of input from the best CAD modellers in the industry as well as our own development team, Matrix provides users with the fastest way to replicate existing pieces and explore new designs while allowing that process to take many creative paths.

With History built into models, exclusive “Style Sheet” functionality, a host of new tools, and a streamlined interface with new viewport controls, we think you’ll agree: this is the most efficient, flexible, and creative software tool ever developed for jewellery designers.

Our mission is to offer outstanding training in all areas of professional dance to beginners and professionals alike. IDA’s mission also includes an outreach program that endeavors to enrich the lives of young adults and senior members of the community through the art of dance.

Our facilities include six deluxe dance studios available for open classes, ranging from Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Fusion Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, African, Swing, Salsa and Belly Dance. IDA can also offer private rentals for production and/or individual needs.

Most of our teachers are also choreographers and performers who have worked with Beyonce, Usher, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Prince, Paula Abdul and Alicia Keys,to name only a few, and have been the winners of “So You Think You Can Dance?”.

In response to many dancers’ summons, IDA also offers monthly workshops. These workshops provide an opportunity for famous choreographers and dancers to teach students at IDA. Check out our workshop schedule – our guest teachers may surprise you!

IDA is proud to be the home of “America’s Best Dance Crew”, “So You Think You Can Dance”, “American Idol”, Kate Bosworth, Mia Michaels, Katie Holmes, Natalie Portman, Snoop Doggy Dog, Britney Spears, The Pussycat Dolls, Janet Jackson, Jesse McCartney, Chase Collins and so many more!

The Makeup Show 2011 in New York City

Some of the brands in attendance at the show are Becca Cosmetics, Dermalogica, Embryolisse, Eve Pearl, Face Atelier, Graftobian, Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, Korres Natural Products, L’Oreal, M.A.C Cosmetics, Mai Couture, Mario Badescu Skin Care, Naked, Cosmetics, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Shu Uemura, Three Custom Color, Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics, and more. I’m so excited to check all of these out!

There’s more…We’ll be interviewing Stila Cosmetics makeup artist on Saturday afternoon! We’re really excited to talk to Sarah about what’s new for summer. Do you have a question for her? Leave us a comment with a question and we’ll ask her on Saturday!

Metropolitan Events and Productions is pleased to announce the 2011 dates for The Makeup Show NYC.

SUNDAY MAY 15
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
MONDAY MAY 16
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Celebrating five consecutive years of bringing the professional beauty industry together The Makeup Show NYC will continue to grow and deliver the largest PRO-ONLY driven beauty event in NYC! Join us at The Makeup Show as the top industry artists and pro-driven companies present the newest products, seminars, forums and hands-on workshops.  Fill your two days with inspiration, education and community. Learn about the newest lines and product launches. Explore makeup workshops and discover school programs. Network with your peers. Develop new relationships with the companies that make the industry tick.

The professional makeup industry will come together to celebrate the craft of the professional makeup artist for the sixth time – at the global epicenter of beauty and fashion – New York City.

Deborah Lipman, a celebrity manicurist, told InStyle that customers with fair skin should use blue-based shades with a light shimmer to avoid looking gothic.

Pale-skinned ladies can also look good in a red shade that has a hint of pink, such as Essie in Lacy Not Racy. In addition, those with a pale complexion can benefit from a metallic earthy chestnut shade, like RevlonLacquer in Crushed Crimson.

When it comes to clients with medium skin tones, ladies looking to learn make-up techniques can go for nail polishes that contain warm undertones and flecks of gold. Those with tanned complexions also suit metallic red shades, such as OPI in Bastille My Heart.

Customers with darker skin may wish to try strong shades that are almost black, such as a deep burgundy, a dark purple or a dark chocolate brown, as an alternative.

Furthermore, Metro said that nails can be made to look more sparkly with OPI Burlesque Collection’s Bring On The Bling.

Any diamond worth its weight will come with certification. GIA certified diamonds will have had their cut, carat, clarity and colour graded. Their dimensions will be measured exactly and every possible snippet of information that can be gleaned from the stone will be entered on the certificate.

All this grading is carried out by the Gemological Institute of America who have developed the world recognised method of grading diamonds. Their motive for carrying out this process is to preserve integrity in the world diamond markets. It reduces the possibility of fake diamonds flooding the market although there is still some room for this to happen. The Institute employs well over one thousand people in research centres throughout the world who are trained to give GIA certified diamonds the grades they come with.
If you are in any doubt as to what this means, then know that Governments have used the GIA as a trusted information source and even the British crown jewels have GIA certified diamonds in them.

Owning a GIA certified diamond does not necessarily mean it is worth any more than an uncertified diamond but it simply means that you can be sure of its quality. However, appraisers are the people responsible for deciding how much a diamond is worth and they often use the GIA certification as a guide to the quality and thus a way to gauge the price.

It is also easier for a diamond owner to insure his precious gem with a GIA certificate. It removes the element of doubt as to its quality and therefore the amount it is insured for is unlikely to be questioned. It also means that you can rest assured you are not purchasing an imitation stone or one of poor quality.

Of course, with all things, there is the risk of forgery on paperwork. This element is all but done away with after GIA introduced holograms, microprint lines and security screens. Eventually, forgers will find a way round these barriers but the GIA will continue to work towards staying on top of the issue to ensure the stones bearing the GIA certificate are always seen as genuine.

Of all the diamonds on the planet, the most costly are coloured diamonds. Diamonds develop colour because of some impurities but it is the fact that they are so rare that means they are worth more than clear diamonds. Diamonds come in shades of purple, orange, green, blue, pink, yellow, brown, black and the rarest red. They are much more expensive per carat than the average diamond and the most expensive ever sold was a purplish red diamond that sold at auction for $926, 317 per carat. That was its price at auction over twenty years ago so no doubt some lucky person is sitting on an absolute money pot.

Coloured diamonds are also subject to GIA certification and although the colour is actually a flaw, this imperfection brings a uniqueness to the stone that many people like and these flaws are measured as to their consistency. If colour is even distributed throughout the diamond then it will look better and be worth more to the highest bidder.